Inevitably, there will be days when meal plans (or recipes) have failed or there are unexpected schedule changes.Īlways have a few options on hand in your pantry or freezer that you can substitute when needed to avoid grabbing fast food.ĭon’t feel restricted by your monthly meal plan. Cook or grill enough protein at one time that you can use it in 2-3 meals that week.This will take one afternoon, but you can end up with several delicious, healthy, and budget-friendly meals. Make ahead freezer meals that you will use in your monthly meal plan.Double the recipe you are cooking and freeze half for later use. Make Ahead Meal Optionsįind ways to make meals in advance to have for the month. Use the crockpot for warm-filling soups and stews during the winter.In the summer months, plan to grill as much as possible.Incorporate fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables into your meals and use these for snack options.Plan to eat with the seasons to save money and to add variety to your family’s diet. Monthly meal planning for December will look different than your June meal plan. It is also 100% okay to push back a meal you have planned in order to eat leftovers.You can add another side, turn a leftover protein into a sandwich, or use leftovers in a soup or salad. Cook for two nights and then plan to use the leftovers for the next dinner.Use LeftoversĪvoid waste and protect your budget by eating your leftovers. The goal of a monthly meal plan is to not only have healthy meals at home, but also to save on time and money in the store. If you comparison shop at more than one store, try to limit the amount of time you spend at each store to once a month.This allows you to stick to your list and only get what you need. Ordering groceries online is a smart option for busy families.Designate a spot in the kitchen for an ongoing grocery list that anyone can add to when something needs to be restocked.For those, shop weekly or every other week. Then, create another column on your grocery list for things you will have to buy fresh.Try to shop once a month for the bulk of pantry and freezer items. Make a grocery list from your monthly meal plan with the items you can buy now for the month.I supplement meals with seasonal fruits and veggies. I also use simple breakfast and lunch meals that I always have on hand. In this plan, I use dinner leftovers for lunches and leftover protein for additional meals during the week. *This is a basic sample monthly meal plan that could work any time of the year. Also, get the free sample monthly meal plan with recipe links. Also, get your family involved in helping prep meals as much as possible! Monthly Meal Planner Templateĭownload your free printable monthly meal planner template pdf here. Let your family help choose meals they like when making your monthly meal plan. Whether you are packing lunches for school and work or eating at home, buy the same types of food.
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